MTW Minuteman Appeal For Myanmar

Dear Minuteman,

Horrifying and harrowing stories are emerging in the aftermath of the catastrophic tropical cyclone that devastated much of already poverty-striken Myanmar. Reuters News is reporting an estimate of one million people left homeless. No one really knows how high the death toll—now reported at 25,000—will rise, but estimates are still being revised upwards. The military government has not responded quickly, and relief agencies have been initially frustrated by delays in receiving emergency visas. Assistance has only begun to trickle in. Many areas are almost inaccessible, and early reports from survivors describe terror and devastating loss of loved ones. The urgency of the crisis increases almost hourly.

The area hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis is Myanmar’s fertile Irrawaddy delta region known as the Rice Bowl. Rice plants die quickly when completely submerged in water, and much of the area is still underwater. Of course, this means that the rice crop, upon which the country depends, is almost certain to be entirely lost. So, even those areas of Myanmar that did not take a direct hit from the storm will be deeply affected, possibly catastrophically. And as is always the case, children and the elderly will suffer the most from lack of shelter, water, and food. If circumstances continue unchecked, disease will almost surely follow.

Our assessment team will leave as soon as visas are issued, and after that we hope to move quickly with disaster response teams and perhaps longer-term assistance. The crisis will not pass quickly. Although our national partner, Dr. Tial Tanga, is believed to be in an area not directly hit by the cyclone, phone and email communications are down, presumably throughout the country, so we have been unable to reach him. We expect Dr. Tanga, a graduate of Reformed Seminary, to be directly involved in MTW’s efforts.

To make a donation by check, please make your check payable to Mission to the World and write” 93985-MMMM08WEB” on the memo line. To give online, click here. And would you pray as well as give? We expect to face many challenges.

Sincerely in Christ,

Paul D. Kooistra, Coordinator

PS: Any funds not used in the current appeal will be used for similar appeals.

PPS: If you would like to receive Minuteman appeals by email, please send a message to minuteman@mtw.org with the subject line “Add to Email List.”

Donations Address:

Mission to the World

P.O. Box 116284

Atlanta, GA 30368-6284

God has blessed the ministry of BEAMM greatly over the past eighteen years by sending many willing servants to the border to advance His kingdom. As you can imagine, with an area 2,000 miles long, 120,000 square miles in area, and fourteen major border cities, opportunities abound for ministry. We need servants like you to help us reach the over ten million people now living on the border with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

BEAMM serves as an "empowering" agent, providing financial, educational, and human resources to presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in America on the United States side and presbyteries of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico on the Mexico side, so that churches may be established and cities transformed with the Gospel.

We have a wide variety of ways in which you can serve for one week, one to eleven months, two to three years, or long term as a career. Please check out the areas of service that we currently have available and then pray how God may lead you to work with our expanding team of missionaries and Mexican national church planters and pastors.

If you are interested in any of the opportunities listed below, please contact Gene Bowman, BEAMM Coordinator, at (915) 838-3747 (home), (915) 892-4778 (cell), or glbowman@beamm.org.

• BEAMM Regional Director - Eastern Region - Career
  A BEAMM Regional Director drives the work of BEAMM is his region, developing relationships with local churches, helping to recruit new workers and discover educational and financial support for these workers. He also serves as BEAMM's liaison to presbyteries on both sides of the border as well as to BEAMM Partners.

• The ideal candidate must be a mature man, fluent in both English and Spanish, with good organizational skills. Being an ordained Teaching Elder is a plus, but not a requirement. He must be able to encourage and mentor others, with good leadership development skills. He must be able to raise his own financial support as well as the support for other workers and projects within his region. He must pass an assessment process. He may live on either side of the border in the region where he is working.

• English Language Trainers - Intern, Two-Year, Career
  Many on the border are eager to learn English. For those who live in the U.S., learning English allows them to assimilate more quickly into the U.S. culture and allows them to find better employment. For those living in Mexico, learning English allows them to better their employment situation, opening up opportunities for advancement in the U.S. assembly plants located all along the border.
• The ideal candidate may be a man or a lady who is college-age or older with an aptitude for teaching and a command of the English language. English as a Second Language Training will be provided to every candidate. Supervision will be given by the BEAMM Regional Director of the area where the candidate is working. The candidate will be responsible for developing class sites, schedules, recruiting students, teaching students, and routinely evaluating their progress. The candidate will work with a local church so that the Gospel may be presented to the students and so that a relationship may be developed between the students and the local church. Fluency in Spanish is a plus. but not required for interns. Two-year and Career workers will be required to either be fluent in Spanish or be willing to learn Spanish. He must be able to raise his own financial support and pass an assessment process.

• Seminary Instructors - Two-week, Two Year, Career
  BEAMM is committed to the training of national men in areas of leadership and theology. We are doing this through local seminaries as well as extension learning. In order for these seminaries to be effective, we need mature, competent instructors to teach theological concepts along with pratical application.
• The ideal candidate should be a mature Christian, very familiar with Reformed theology and the Doctrines of Grace. He should be able to teach in a seminary environment. An M.Div. or higher is a plus, but is not required. Opportunites exist for a person to come to the border to teach a particular class within a one to three-week period. Additional opportunites exist for full-time teachers. Two-year and Career instructors must be able to raise their own financial support and must pass an assessment process.

Pastors' Vision Trip: Ukraine 2008

Darrell McIntyre, pastor of Westminster PCA, Gainesville, TX, and Craig Weaver, Associate Pastor of Christ PCA, Tulsa, OK, made a trip with Mission to the World last month to Ukraine to visit the PCA's works in L'viv, Odessa, and Kiev.

What is a vision trip?

MTW vision trips come in all shapes and sizes, but they are designed with you in mind. Some trips target one ministry or geographic area; others are wide-ranging. Although a few trips provide limited opportunity for hands-on ministry, the focus is on vision rather than participation. All, however, offer personal challenge and spiritual growth.

Vision trip participants sometimes come from churches that are exploring new sites or ministry opportunities based on the strategies and objectives of their own church. Others are already committed to particular ministries, but are exploring ways in which they and their church might deepen their involvement. Still others are seeking to develop their own church’s missions focus and strategy, so are interested in a broader ministry overview

Some who visit the field are interested in seeing personally the ministries in which they are investing, or they may be seeking where God might have them invest resources in the future. Just getting a bigger vision for missions, or even seeking direction regarding a possible call to the field, sometimes provide motivation to join a trip.

NTP's MTW Committee offers up to $1000 per minister for a vision trip (funds permitting, of course). Contact the Committee through the Presbytery's website (link at right) for more details.

Psalm 117

Our prayer is that Christ Jesus be glorified by all the peoples of the earth. Have a blessed Lord's Day.

Here's Australia's Sons of Korah and Psalm 117

May 2008 Report

Rick & Pam Box #010519 Bogotá, Colombia

Christ Presbyterian, Flower Mound

Concluding their first year back “home” in Bogotá, Rick is pastor of the English speaking United Church of Bogotá (training three Colombians to be examined for RE in June!!!) and continues his work with Colombian churches hoping to plant a Spanish speaking church in the United Church building. Pam is teaching Sproul’s ‘Dust to Glory’ to a Ladies’ Bible Study in English.

rbox@mtwsa.org pamelajbox@yahoo.com

Dawn Brady #010572 Ukraine

Fifth Street Presbyterian, Tyler

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine (EPCU) was particularized on April 16! This is a great step forward for the church we work with in Ukraine.

Dawn married Steve Sparks on April 26 and they will be thinking and praying about whether God is calling them to return to Ukraine. For the remainder of 2008, Dawn will be on HMA and will be visiting supporting churches and giving reports on the work in Kiev.

dbrady@mtwukraine.org http://dawnukraine.shutterfly.com

Andrew & Rebecca Bronson #010731 Thailand

Park Cities, Dallas

Returning from their two-year term in Thailand, Andrew and Becky plan to begin at Covenant Seminary, St. Louis, in June. While both work toward Masters Degrees, they will continue to work part time in recruiting, administration and vision trip leading for MTW's Director of Asia-Pacific.

bronsons@mtwthailand.org www.mtwthailand.org

Ruth Dinkins #011718 Brazil

Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa

“Our new school year began the 4th of March with 89 students: 31 in the 1st year (5 married), 34 in the 2nd year (11 married), and 24 in the 3rd year (2 married) - graduating class. A former graduate of the Bible Institute, who is married to one of the music department teachers, has taken over my classes. I hope to be back at the Bible Institute July 16 to begin the 2nd semester the beginning of August.”

HMA - January to mid-July. Contact her for personal visits to your church or missions conference.

2773 Gillis Hill Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306

(910) 867-8112

dinkinsmr@hotmail.com

Peter Dishman #011731 RUF-UNAM, Mexico City

MTW/RUM

Town North, Richardson

“The spring semester is off to a good start, with our large group meeting just off campus at the Baptist Student Center, several new small groups, and some good visits from RUF chapters in Texas and Florida over Spring Break. Pray for the RUF team in Mexico City this semester (Peter Dishman, Ruth Martinez, Jared Weatherholtz, Josh & Amy Oettle), for growth as friends and co-laborers.”

pwdishman@gmail.com http://www.rufmexico.org/ (English) http://www.curunam.org/ (Spanish)

Caleb & Aimee Dunn #011783 Mexico

Church Planter Training

Park Cities, Dallas

Caleb and Aimee have been in Cd. Victoria and Monterrey since 2003, building a school and training Church Planters & teams. Abigail and Andrew were born there. He began his D.Min. in Pastoral Counseling at WTS Philadelphia in August, all the while commuting often to maintain his role as Director of the school in Mexico.

HMA travel ends with return to Monterrey June ’08. Notify him for personal visits to your church.

Caleb plans to be with us at Presbytery.

caleb@mtwmex.net aimee@mtwmex.net

Ben Graber #012803 East Germany

Fort Worth PCA

Ben is in Berlin since last October on a two-year term. The church plant his team serves plans to move into its own space in June. $10,000 matching funds grant for set-up. Contact Ben to contribute.

Ben.graber@gmail.com http://bengraber.blogspot.com

Scott & Mary Ann Nelson #015418 SIL Support

MTW/Wycliffe

Trinity Presbyterian, Plano

“We are just starting the planning phase of changing the email system for all the field locations as well as the Linguistics Center (Graduate School) in Dallas and the JAARS Center. This will be a large project which will take a year. Also, working on secure communications for translators in sensitive locations.”

Scott_nelson@sil.org

Josh & Amy Oettle #015711 UNAM, Mexico City

Park Cities, Dallas

Josh and Amy Oettle (pronounced Ettly), arrived in Mexico City in August to begin their 18 month term of study and service with Peter Dishman at the UNAM, one of the world’s largest universities. The Oettles are now half way through their time in Mexico City, and could use your prayer for continuing language development, ministry activities, and thoughts about the future.

Josh.oettle@gmail.com joshandamyoettle@wordpress.com

Howard and Deidre Shelden #016816 SIL/Dallas

MTW/Wycliffe

New Covenant Presbyterian, Dallas

Deidre is in her first year as Associate Director of Personnel for Wycliffe USA. Howard draws on his two decades of experience in a sensitive country to assist the VP of Corporate Communications by writing and editing publicity materials for government relations. “It is important that our message be culturally and politically sensitive, not only for the intended audience, but also for anyone in any country who might stumble across one of our Web sites.”
Howard_Shelden@WBT.org Dee_Shelden@WBT.org http://www.wycliffe.org

Doug & Masha Shepherd #016819 Ukraine

Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa

Beginning in Kiev, they’ve been in L’viv now a year. Chaz and Nika are well. Doug & Masha are busy with language school and a move into apartment. Last week’s visit with NTP pastors left a taste of home. “While you’re praying, ask God to send a few more families and singles to join the L’viv Church Planting Team.” Pray for Doug’s Mom, undergoing CA treatment.

Free2travel98@yahoo.com

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NEWS FROM BEAMM

Border Evangelism and Mercy Ministries

• Steve Milvain, Village Seven PCA, is the new Chairman of BEAMM Partnership.

Next Partnership Meeting – May 16-18, 2008 New Life PCA, Escondido, CA

BEAMM Partners NTP Are: 5th St., Tyler, Ft. Worth PCA, Redeemer, McKinney, and Westminster, Gainesville. steve@milvain.com

• Unreasonable delays forced BEAMM to cancel land purchase agreement in Cd. Juarez, postponing plans for a Community Center that would have become home to the Gracia y Paz Church, and the San Pablo Seminary. Pray for guidance to another solution.
• Plans are that La Vid (The Vine) Church in Laredo, Eastern Region, be particularized in June, 2008. Carlos Cano, Pastor.
• Movement of a 14,000 sq. foot building for Dios Soberano (Sovereign God) Mission, Mexicali, Western Region has again been delayed due to donor’s conflicts. Donor has now committed to having his crew dismantle the building in May, then loading it on trucks heading for Mexicali in June.
• Five Missionary Units or Church Planters now headed for the border: Ray & Michelle Call, Rick & Sharon Marooney, Julio & Arlette Navarro, Gary & Kay Whiting, Jeff & Heather Vaughn.
• Personnel Needs: BEAMM Regional Director - Eastern Region: Career:

English Language Trainers: Intern, Two-Year, Career:

Seminary Instructors: Two-week, Two Year, Career:

Contact Gene Bowman, 915-838-3747, glbowman@BEAMM.org

Summer Interns to host Summer Mission Trips – 2008,

Contact Luann Bowman, luannbowman@BEAMM.org

• Check in at www.BEAMM.org to keep abreast of events on the border.

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AROUND THE PRESBYTERY

Vision trip to Ukraine:

TE Darrell McIntyre, Westminster, Gainesville and TE Craig Weaver, Christ PCA, Tulsa returned last week from a week in Ukraine, visiting our work in Kiev, L’viv, & Odessa. Ask them for details.

For PCPC schedule of Mission Trips see:

http://www.pcpcmissions.org/world/ ntpmtw@juno.com

Opportunities to share in a Mission trip:

• Cristo Rey's trip to Ciudad Victoria, Mexico August 2 – 9

Contact Esmeralda Palomares - cristorey@sbcuc.net

• Lakewood PC MTW BEAMM trip to Juarez, July 12-19

Contact Paul E. Bryant, RE / Lakewood Presbyterian Church / Work: 972-624-2972 / Home: 214-324-2043 / Cell: 214-563-3068

• Town North Presbyterian Church's Summer 2008 Team to Quertaro, Mexico,

July 26-August 2

Contact Kirk McCord (469-867-4171) or Beverly McCord (469-867-4172) or Ed Hotz (214-794-9089)

Rick & Pam Box, MTW Colombia

Rick and Pam, along with their four daughters served as MTW missionaries in Bogota, Colombia between 1993 and 2001 where Rick was the team leader and church planter. During that time, by God's grace, reformed churches were constituted, a Colombian presbytery formed, and a national leadership training program established.

From 2001 to 2006 Rick and Pam moved to Mexico City, Mexico, where Rick served as the MTW Mexico country director. The summer of 2006, they returned to the US for home ministry assignment.

In 2007, Rick and Pam returned to Bogota, Colombia to serve the Colombian presbytery in the areas of church planting and theological training and Mission to the World as country director.

Please pray that the Lord will continue to grow and prosper His Church in Colombia, that He will raise up godly men to lead and teach others, that the culture will be transformed by the truth of the gospel and that Colombian believers will be sent out into all the world as a living testimony of Christ.

The Boxes have four grown daughters: Shannon (3/14/77), Tiffany (6/6/81), Jordan (10/25/83) and Hannah (11/14/87).

The Boxes March 2008 Prayer Letter:

Dear Fellow Pilgrims,
As I am writing there is a deafening whizzing beneath me, dust surrounding me and general disorder everywhere. We are having the wood flooring on the first floor of our rent house refurbished. The whizzing is coming from a gigantic sanding machine that looks much like a vacuum cleaner, but doesn’t do well in sucking in the noxious dust particles that have taken over; much to my dismay. Rick and I have had to wear nose and mouth covers for several days in order to be able to breathe. Hopefully, this job will be finished by the middle of next week, we will still have our lungs functioning and it will have all been worth the mess……hopefully.

Much has happened here since I wrote you last. We had an annual “Day without Cars”, which the Colombian government applauds as eco-friendly, supposedly reducing exhaust fumes in the air. This year, however, someone actually published the statistics and it made no difference at all. On this day, no one with a car, except diplomats and congressmen, of course, can drive anywhere in the city, so the entire population is forced to use public transportation, of which we can only use taxis. The buses are the main culprits of toxic exhaust, so with ALL of them on the roads the same day, well, you can imagine. Many people just take the day off and stay at home. Can you fathom someone suggesting this in the good ole USA?

We also had a national day of protest against the FARC and all the kidnappings and violence they perpetrate. That was also a day off for many people not only in Bogota, but in all the towns and cities in Colombia and in world-class cities around the world. We are told not to participate in any political protest as foreigners, so we went out to watch, but didn’t actually march. I sure wanted to, however! It was encouraging to see the millions of Colombians who took off work to march for peace. Of course, we know that true peace will only come through Jesus and not through political movements or marches, but it was encouraging to see so many seekers. And this is a good platform from which to talk to people about the Prince of Peace.

Easter at United Church of Bogota was wonderful! We were expecting a small turnout since many of our regulars were on vacation out of the country, but the sanctuary was full! We had kept the church devoid of ornamentation in observance of Lent, but on Resurrection Sunday, the church was bursting with color and life. In lieu of Sunday School, we had a brunch with food provided by the members. That can be a risky thing in Colombia where they have not a clue about our native “pot lucks”, but it went extremely well and we had many loaves left over and a few fish!

This coming Sunday, we will be traveling directly from United Church to Cristo Rey to be with them as they celebrate their 15th anniversary. They have been working on their history and have a big party planned with lots of good, Colombian food! We surely wouldn’t want to miss that! And then in just a week, I will be taking off for a vacation! A very generous couple from the United Church, have given both Rick and I miles for a trip to see our girls and grandkids.

Unfortunately, Rick is in the midst of leadership training at the church and can’t leave as early as I can, but he will be flying up a week later. It has been over a year since we have been at “home”, so this is so exciting for us and it will be the first time since we originally left for the field that we have been able to go to Texas just for a visit and not for itineration. I am counting down the days! Please pray for our time with our families and join us in giving thanks to God for this precious gift! I am sorry for the “newsiness” of this letter, but I have been remiss in writing and have so much to tell you.

Time and space escape me and I haven’t even mentioned Rick’s trip to Chile for the Latin American leaders meeting, or Cam Clausing’s visit during Easter week or how excited we are that we are having one of our supporting church groups coming down this summer! I hope it is evident, however, that God is good, all the time, and we can’t remember having so much fun in ministry! So, until the next time we pass this way together: May the God of peace calm your hearts no matter where you are, grant you much grace for the journey, sprinkle your path with joy so that you can skip along the way and bring you safely and securely home at last.

Skipping and jumping,

Pam

Newsletter from Angi Williams

Newsletter from Angi Williams, Wyclif Bible Translators, Democratic Republic of Congo. Download it here.